Friday, 30 October 2009

And here's one for the guys to keep out of their partners' grasp. A multi stripe herringbone weave large scarf that is soft, soft, soft... This one has a sure-fire strokability factor.These two colours don't appear in our photo - we had so much choice!!!Pale Blue/Cream and Black/Camel with white.

We've introduced a baby sister to our ever popular starlight pashmina. It's a scarf size and is dotted with Swarovski crystals to give that dewdrop sparkle.As promised on the Home Page here's a picture of the Bright Red and Pewter Grey scarves. Other colours are arriving all the time so keep an eye on the drop down lists or this blog. Alternatively, email your requests! http://www.pashminasdirect.co.uk/Details.asp?ProductID=181

This is what I've come up with so far... The Lightweight shaded pashmina in the shawl size (note to our other customers: this isn't on the site, but is a large version of the summer scarf. Telephone orders only!). Amethyst to Pale Pink looks like this - SHORT FRINGE!!!!

The other colourway I mentioned was the Fuchsia to Peacock to Purple which looks like this

Tuesday, 15 September 2009

This is a large size (90 x 200cms) but as it's a finer weave for the summer months, it scrunches down to a generous scarf size for the winter. And if we get that Indian Summer we're always promised, it's a generous shawl. A true bargain at £20.00 - email if you'd like to grab this one! orders@pashminasdirect.co.uk and quote RASPBERRY BLOG.

Wednesday, 9 September 2009

When we choose a colour combination for a shawl we know we're on the right track when we see a flower with that same shading. After all, Mother Nature can't be wrong! The flower is courtesy of Val- the king of our communal courtyard garden - and the lightweight pashmina & silk shaded scarf is PD014SUH Fuchsia-Peacock-Purple @ £24.50http://www.pashminasdirect.co.uk/Details.asp?ProductID=174

Quite Interesting fact for any music lovers amongst you. The tree and squirrels in the courtyard garden feature in a song on Jason Mraz's splendid latest album. We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.

Friday, 21 August 2009

We're getting our Autumn/Winter stock in now, so I thought I might put up a sneaky picture of these gorgeous beaded fringe shawls.

This shawl has always been one of our most popular designs - the sparkle is just enough for evening without feeling overdone - and we have the welcome return of Pewter Grey and a first showing for Lavender, Plum and Bordeaux. All great colours for this season.

Keep an eye on the website - these will be available to buy in September.

This saffron has been a favourite shawl of mine over the years. Sunny as a sunflower, it cheers you up when autumn rolls around. It goes brilliantly with all shades of chocolate and can look great in summer with orange or white.If you want to request a picture of another clearance colour, drop me a line at pashmina@mayfair-valley.co.uk

Tuesday, 21 July 2009

As the weather has become so unsettled, it's time to haul out some shawls.

It's always a treat to wear 100% Pashmina - nothing else compares - and once you've tried it once, it's difficult to go back. But the 100% price tag can put off the most ardent pashmina lover.

Featured in our Bargain Box Beauties section today is a 100% Large Shawl shaded Turquoise to paler. It has some faults in the weave and a paler dye mark but nothing that shows when wearing and it's a fantastic way to pick up a 100% at less than the price of a regular Pashmina & Silk in this size.

In the office bargain box at only £40.00, this shawl usually sells on our website at £112.05 (and in fact a pristine version is currently available at that price...) Drop me an email on our Contacts page and quote 100%BLOG. There's only one, but get in touch and you might grab a bargain! www.pashminasdirect.co.uk

Friday, 3 July 2009

Here's a lovely lightweight pashmina shawl that's languishing in our bargain box for no other reason than a small red dye spot. This is all part of the joy of handmade items and it won't show when you're wearing it. However we're sensitive souls in Pashmina Land and it had to go at a clearance price of £25.00. (The Very Lightweight Large Shawls usually cost £60.75 - so it's a real bargain!)

Monday, 29 June 2009

As a new feature of the blog, I am going to showcase any new colours that come into stock and some of those unusual colours that appear on the drop down list. We often have pashminas available in one off colours on the website and this is their chance to shine.

Today is a wonderful summer colour - Yellow Elderfower. This is new in stock and we got the shade dyed especially when the Boss recently visied Kathmandu. It's currently only available in the pashmina & silk scarf size.

Friday, 26 June 2009

Is my long search for a gorgeous raspberry pink for our pashminas finally at an end? When the Boss went to Nepal she took a sample of the colour we were looking for, and got it dyed to match. This is the result.

Thursday, 18 June 2009

Of course, nothing much changes for me; but she has to get used to life back as it was.No more daily massages or dining with handsome young Nepali Bollywood movie stars.( I hasten to add that the massages and the actor weren't linked!)Instead we have been deluged with the post-visit shipments, bearing back all sorts of pashmina goodies to paw over and try and work out which styles are going on our wish list.

There are some dreamy bridal shawls and scrumptious new lines in 100% pashmina knits.Anyone who has been on the Pashminas Direct site http://www.pashminasdirect.co.uk/ will wonder if I've gone mad, because we don't have a specific bridal or knitwear section. I'm talking about the pieces which we tend to supply to boutiques and stores, rather than on-line. But keep your ear to the ground - these items are seriously luxurious and will be available soon on our sister site....

Friday, 29 May 2009

I'm thinking linens, chiffon frocks, strawberries at wimbledon. A glorious Saturday afternoon at Lords with the Aussies following on... Brideshead Revisited; a perfect wedding day in mid-summer; lying back and letting the world pass by as some delightful chap in a boater punts along the Cam... I'm thinking floaty summer scarves...

And these are lightweight pashmina and silk scarves at their very best. Light as a whisper and dyed through several shades to produce a simply stunning effect. This is melon through pale pink though silver ice but we have a huge range of others. We only have a few of each so you won't meet someone else wearing the same scarf...unless you're both punting down the river at the same time. And what are the chances of that happening?

Thursday, 28 May 2009

And here's the heart of Kathmandu. Although it's hot at this time of the year, The Boss tells me that they've had persistent fine rain and so have been forced to stay inside for more pampering! Or wrap a pashmina round your head - they don't mind getting wet you know!

Friday, 22 May 2009

Orange seems to be asserting itself as a colour of the summer. For those of you who want to get on board early but want to see the shades available and not pay a lot... I've been checking out our clearance Pashmina & Silk scarves at £11.75.Great for a hint of summer when the weather's miserable (Wimbledon IS on the horizon!)From the top in Orange Juice, Terracotta, Gold, Mango and Bright Orange. These are only available in ones and twos so get them while you can...http://www.pashminasdirect.co.uk/Details.asp?ProductID=65

Monday, 18 May 2009

It never ceases to amaze me as I'm trekking around town in the day, how many people are taking full advantage of half an hour of sun and have no visible coat, scarf , anything...

When I leave for work in the morning it's by and large freezing, and with the unpredictable May weather, how can you punt on no sleeves etc that early on?

Although I'm a wuss who would prefer a huge pashmina at all times, I have to bow to the seasonal changes eventually. This is the season when the mini scarf comes into its own. You can tuck it into a jacket in the morning for snuggly pashmina warmth, and fold it to the size of a cigarette packet to stow in your bag later in the day. My current favourite is the Burgundy to Browns 4 colour shaded scarf on our Men's page (yes I know, but they are pretty unisex). http://www.pashminasdirect.co.uk/Details.asp?ProductID=106

and for variation and to go with the check trend, the occasional foray into houndstooth.

Thursday, 14 May 2009

Pashminas at the ready! All action stations today, as the Boss leaves for Nepal on Monday morning. So we're currently trying to remember all those ideas for new designs that have come to us in the last couple of months, and are hoping to seeing some of them realised. On a personal front, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a new Raspberry sample. (As you know, finding the ideal raspberry is becoming a personal quest.)

The Boss is always keen to go and visit our suppliers, but I have a sneaking suspicion that the pashmina talk might not be the only incentive. Could it be lovely Kathmandu, Everest or the delights of the hotel massage/facial/pedicure services... that keeps drawing her back?

Wednesday, 6 May 2009

I've been noticing how animal prints are prowling round this season; not fully in the spot light but giving a touch of interest in accessories and shorty cardigans.Prints are hot news in their forms, whether in delicate florals, bold and brights or more earthy tones and we've suddenly found that our camouflage shawls have been flying off the shelves.http://www.pashminasdirect.co.uk/Details.asp?ProductID=102The animal print is more of a perennial favourite and a great investment especially in a classic cheetah, leopard or zebra. A hint on a bag or a small scarf can carry you through so many trends. http://www.pashminasdirect.co.uk/Details.asp?ProductID=129If you're very daring you can go for a coloured animal print - fantastic in the sunshine - but maybe not for all seasons (or years).

Friday, 1 May 2009

One of our best summer sellers is the super large shaded silk chiffon shawl. Of course this can be worn in all the regular shawl ways and crunches down small to become a long floaty scarf, (beware in open top cars!) but I've recently been asked by several customers how to wear it as a dress/ sarong.

How to wear... as a skirt

1. It's certainly light enough to knot at the side of the hip - single layer for a long skirt or folded in half for the more daring.

Hold the long length round your hips and then...

Either a. Tie the full length of material to make the knot. This tends to make a snug fit round the hips that can be quite restrictive.

Or b. At the point where the chiffon meets over one hip, grab a handful from each side and make the knot with this. The excess from the ends falls in a pretty waterfall way.

How to wear as a dress (for over a bikini or swimsuit)

Here are a couple of ideas.

1. The long length should be round your ribcage with the two sides under either arm. Twist the chiffon at the top two corners, cross the fabric over your chest and knot the two ends behind your neck for a halterneck.

2. Or go asymmetrical and let the material pass under only one arm and knot over the opposite shoulder.

Tuesday, 28 April 2009

We've just received a shipment from Nepal, and as ever, once we've sorted and sent out the orders to our various clients, the best bit by far is checking out the new items.We took a punt this season on a crazy colour combination in a lightweight pashmina shawl which shades through this season's key colours.From Fuchsia to Jade to Purple, this shawl sounds quite scary but works like a dream. And it should look stunning with a LBD. Wow! I'm adding it to my wish list.

Wednesday, 22 April 2009

New for Autumn/ Winter 2009 2010 will be the square scarf. Of course, we in Pashmina Land think purely in pashmina cashmere terms and don't hold with all these man made equivalents. And we've got a couple of gorgeous 100% pash. square treats coming up on PashminasDirect....Still the same principles apply to wearing the beast (whatever its content).

So how do you wear it?

Here we must bow down to the Italians in their passion for accessories and all things pashmina. The large square scarf - and I mean about 1 metre squared, no little pathetic neckerchief - should be folded into a triangle with the centre point down your chest like a cowboy. The two side points of the triangle are then crossed behind the neck and brought forward so that they drape down over your shoulder blades. Simple and elegant, or rock-chick chic, whatever is your flavour.

Tuesday, 21 April 2009

As ever we are plagued by that age old question, what colour is raspberry ?In fashion terms people think of it as cerise, bright pink, fuchsia... or berry red. But when you offer all those colours already and someone goes and orders a RASPBERRY, where do you go?

Default mode, in these circumstances is panic and then grab the Pantone book and guess.A raspberry russian roulette -pink or red. Life's too short.Tomorrow we will be having kittens about pistachio. That's Pashmina Land for you. http://www.pashminasdirect.co.uk